WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3042/98 by W.G. van VELZEN to the Commission. Developments with regard to the European Energy Charter
Date: 1998-10-08
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN VELZEN W G
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU Member State, European charter, European treaties, France, Ireland, Russia, energy policy, ratification of an agreement, the EU's international role













EUR-Lex - 91998E3042 - EN






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91998E3042

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3042/98 by W.G. van VELZEN to the Commission. Developments with regard to the European Energy Charter  


Official Journal C 135 , 14/05/1999 P. 0158 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3042/98by W.G. van Velzen (PPE) to the Commission(8 October 1998)Subject: Developments with regard to the European Energy CharterThe European Energy Charter is intended, in particular, to protect investment in the field of energy and to promote investment in the energy sector in Central and Eastern Europe. In view of the current crisis in Russia, it is very important to investors to know that their investments in Russia are secure.According to the most recent information available, France has not yet ratified the Charter.1. Which EU Member States and which non-member countries of the EU have not yet ratified the Charter?2. Why has Russia not yet ratified the Charter?3. What is the nature of France's objections?4. Can the Commission do anything to accelerate ratification, as the European Energy Charter is an important instrument for the protection of investment in energy in Russia, and bearing in mind current economic conditions?Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission(20 November 1998)1. The Member States which have not yet ratified the Energy Charter Treaty are France and Ireland. Other signatories of the Energy Charter Treaty which have not yet completed their national ratification procedures are: Australia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Japan, Malta, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation and Turkey. Ukraine has completed its national ratification procedure but not yet deposited its instrument of ratification with the depositary.2. The Russian government initiated the ratification procedure for the Energy Charter Treaty in August 1996. However, up to now, the Duma has not taken up this important issue, which is still pending in its economic policy committee. On several occasions, the Commission has tried to help overcome the concerns of the Duma. In February 1997, the member of the Commission responsible for energy participated in a seminar organised for members of the Duma in order to explain and to promote the ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty by the Russian Federation. At the G8 Energy ministerial meeting on 1 April 1998 in Moscow, the Commission highlighted again the importance of ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty as soon as possible by all signatories, including and above all by the Russian Federation.3. The Commission is not aware of any political or legal reason that poses a problem for France to ratify the Energy Charter Treaty. The procedure for ratification is pending in Parliament, after having been interrupted in 1997 when the National Assembly was dissolved. The Senate has already approved ratification.4. The Commission has no instruments at its disposal to speed up ratification procedures in national parliaments. It can only underline the importance of ratification for the whole Energy Charter process, and especially for the creation of an investor friendly climate in the transition countries.